Top Executive Says Trump Has Wanted To Sell Gaming Halls

Top Executive Says Trump Has Wanted To Sell Gaming Halls

TERRY MUTCHLER

May. 07, 1992

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) _ One of Donald Trump's top executives said Wednesday his boss has been looking to sell his three Atlantic City gaming halls.

But the executive later disavowed the remark, and Trump said he isn't interested in selling.

On Tuesday, casino mogul Steven Wynn claimed that Trump offered his three casinos in exchange for stock in the parent company of Wynn's Mirage Casino Hotel in Las Vegas.

Trump disputed Wynn's claim, saying Mirage officials called him and courted him about a merger.

In an interview Wednesday, Dennis Gomes, president of the Trump Taj Mahal, said Trump has been looking to sell the properties.

''I'd bet my ... he made that call. He's wanted to unload them for a while,'' Gomes said.

Gomes tried to retract the statement, saying if it were printed he would deny it or claim he was joking. He added: ''If the price is right anything in the world is for sale,'' and Trump has ''always wanted to get into Nevada.''

Trump declined to comment on Gomes' statement, but said he had no interest in selling his properties.

''I don't want anything to do with Steve Wynn,'' Trump said by telephone from Florida, where he was on business. ''There's no chance of us being able to get along.''

Later, in a telephone call to The Associated Press, Gomes and Nick Moles, a senior vice president of Trump Taj Mahal Associates, denied that Gomes made the comment and said a lawsuit would be filed if the remark were published.

Trump, in another phone call, also said he would sue if the story were published.